Lesson series

Gesture of Great Love (Term 5)

Level 200 | Understanding
Fridays, May 9th to Jun 13th, 11-12-30 PDT

Information page text box states “Course ongoing” next class starts September 2025

Video recordings available for six months in a private community portal

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Meet Our Faculty

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Description

Mind has the ability to shine like the sun, freeing us from shadows, and lighting the way to meaning, joy, and wisdom. Yet so many people today have the opposite experience: a mind consumed by anxiety, frustration, loneliness, and guilt. In this year-long program based on Tarthang Tulku's seminal book, "Gesture of Great Love", we set off on a wisdom journey that transforms human experience. Closely exploring the mental patterns that bind us, we learn how to harvest the liberating powers of love and peace. Open to all who have taken at least one other class at Dharma College

Testimonials

“I deeply appreciate having been able to receive the Gesture of Great Love teaching online. The pace of the course was perfect and the recordings made it more accessible for me. Symptoms of unwellness are being less treated as objects, embraced more and I've been experiencing more ease and joy.  Some very still silent alive places of being were touched towards the end of the course during the practices together.”
Jacqueline A.
“What a privilege and luxury to be guided thru this very special book by its editor and able interpreter! Than you, Robin, for your thoughtful insights.
Howard H.
“Gesture of Great Love is an inspiring and generous book, now being taught by a generous and inspiring teacher. This course is highly recommended.”
Jonathan C.

Format

Classes meet online for six or seven weeks a term, for 90 minutes a week. Classes are recorded and you will have access to the recordings for six months. Each week, there will be opportunity for close examination of the book, experiential practice guided by the instructor, and class discussion. An online community portal provides an easy and friendly way to become part of a global community of fellow students.

Weekly Topics

Week 1: Opening Fully
Week 2: Presence
Week 3: The Special Status of the Instant
Week 4: Certainty
Week 5: Unity-Wisdom
Week 6: The Heart of Being

Readings From

Gesture of Great Love by Tarthang Tulku

Instructor

Robin Caton

Robin Caton holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan and an MFA in creative writing from Saint Mary's College of California. She is an attorney, poet and teacher who has studied Buddhism for many years, both at the Nyingma Institute and under the direction of Founding Head Lama Tarthang Tulku. Her published works include a volume of poetry, The Color of Dusk. Robin was the Director of Dharma College from 2010 to 2017.

Associate Instructor

Thomas Rogowski

Thomas Rogowski has been a student of Buddhism since 1992. He has attended the Human Development Program and the First Teacher Training Program at Nyingma Institute before volunteering at Odiyan Retreat Center from 1996 to 2003. He has worked intensively with Buddhist art and helped build Cintamani Temple. Originally trained as a teacher he returned to Switzerland where he helped raise his daughter Tara while teaching High School and later Vocational College. Following his other passion he has sailed extensively in the Mediterranean as well as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Contact

2222 Harold Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 704-1105

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